Harshal Patel might not have made it to India’s squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, but his performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 have certainly caught the eye. In a season where batters have often dominated, Harshal’s skillful bowling has placed him among the highest wicket-takers of the tournament.

Impressive wicket-taking ability

Harshal currently leads the wicket-taking charts with 22 scalps in 13 IPL outings, surpassing even the highly acclaimed Jasprit Bumrah, who has 20 wickets in 13 matches. Notably, Harshal has excelled in the death overs, claiming 16 wickets compared to Bumrah’s 11. His ability to perform under pressure and take crucial wickets has been a significant highlight of his season.

Harshal Patel’s favourite wicket in the IPL 2024

Among his impressive haul, Harshal has taken the prized wickets of former Royal Chennai Bengaluru (RCB) captain Virat Kohli and legendary MS Dhoni from Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Interestingly, Harshal is the only bowler to have dismissed Dhoni in the ongoing season. Dhoni, who has batted 10 times this season, has only been dismissed twice, one of which was a run-out.

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However, Harshal’s favorite wicket of the season wasn’t Kohli or Dhoni, but Shahrukh Khan of the Gujarat Titans (GT). In a chat with the IPL, Harshal elaborated on why the wicket was special to him.  Harshal mentioned that taking Shahrukh’s wicket was particularly special because, in his opinion, it was a very challenging delivery to face. He noted that this would likely be one of his favorite wickets. Additionally, he emphasized that dismissing Mahi bhai was always significant, especially in a scenario where the match could have swung either way.

“The Shahrukh wicket was really special because if I say so myself, that was a really difficult delivery to play. That would probably be one of my favourites, and obviously getting Mahi bhai out is always special, especially in that situation where the game could have gone either way. Instead of 167, they could have gotten to 180,” Harshal was quoted as saying by India Tv.

Mastering the art of deception

Harshal further explained the effectiveness of his deliveries. “I have said this multiple times, when I execute that delivery and when it comes out of my hand really well, most of the batters don’t see it, especially when you have just come in and you have not played any balls. It’s very easy to wait for it and allow it to dip and then get under the ball and hit it for a six or a four,”

Harshal’s blend of pace, control, and deceptive deliveries has made him a standout bowler this season. His ability to execute under pressure and dismiss key batters showcases his growing prowess and highlights why he is one of the most valuable bowlers in IPL 2024.

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